Line news May, 2003

NR 53 at the head of an intermodal train with plenty of Australian gum trees in the background in the Blue Mountains.

• <31-May-03>: A busy day! Mike Simpson has updated Route Riter V.4.0.0 to V4.0.05: the EXE and help file update, RRit4005.zip (1.7Mb, 30-May-03), are available from his site (scroll to the bottom of the page). XTracks has been updated, too, to version 3.6; it's available from the Train-sim.com library: standard edition, xtracks.zip (2.3Mb, 30-May-03) and route builder edition with extra goodies, xtracksr.zip (16.3Mb, 30-May-03). Also for route builders, there's an XTracks reference route to demonstrate building a complex yard, xroute.zip (3.1Mb, 30-May-03). Harold West, Stuart Williamson and Jim Ward have put together an interesting idea, a phantom AI sound car to blow a horn or whistle on the AI train when your train is approached within a certain distance, invscar.zip (191kb, 30-May-03); this feature is principally for single-track working when two trains are approaching a junction. Mike Simpson has posted a note at the UK Trainsim forum in relation to installing the Blue Mountains route update; as well there is a missing path file and a missing consist file you can download from Mike's site. Here's a wise saying for the day: When you see a fork in the road, take it.

• <30-May-03>: At the Train-sim.com library, Mike Simpson's update to his Blue Mountains route is available (brings it to version 2), bm2patch.zip (9.2Mb, 29-May-03). The update adds the famous Lithgow Zigzag section so that will provide a different sort of challenge. Also at Train-sim.com is Hector Sanchez's Talgo 4 trainset, talgo4v2.zip (4.5Mb, 29-May-03) (Talgo = Train Articulated Lightweight Goicoechea Oriol). At UK Trainsim, web•TrainSim spotted a set of sounds for the overspeed and distance travelled alerter, overspeed.zip (97kb, 29-May-03), which could be interesting. If you've ever wondered about the function of all those hoses you see on locos, this thread in the Train-sim forum might be enlightening.

ETR 480 high-speed trainset outside Val Grigione.

• <29-May-03>: Mark DiVecchio has an update to his San Diego & Arizona Carrizo Gorge route to bring it to version 2.1, sda21pat.zip (10.6Mb, 28-May-03). Note you need V2.0, sda20.zip (57Mb, 30-Dec-02), installed. Latest news received of progress on the Melbourne-Warnambool route is that the Melbourne yards are basically done, with the Geelong yards and the standard gauge line to Gheringhap coming along (the latter is being done for completeness; the Gheringhap Loop Photos site is a good reference). Finally, there are some tips on installing the FS ETR 480 trainset under Small Fixes 11 - FS ETR 480 trainset & cab.

An ETRY500 trainset heads off to Vallo as our LT-Intercity 3 makes its way in push-mode towards the San Bovio branch line just after departure from Manuzio.

• <28-May-03>: Not a lot caught web•TrainSim's eye at the Train-sim.com library today except for another Jeff Link-Frederick Dreany model, a PRR P-5/B-1 boxcab motor, the precursor to the famous GG1 on the North East Corridor, prr_em.zip (2Mb, 27-May-03). Anyone looking for rolling stock of the smaller U.S. Class 1 railway companies will be well pleased however with what's becoming available at Train-sim.com.

• <27-May-03>: There's some new Spanish and Italian railways rolling stock in the Train-sim.com library: the RENFE 592 Intercity and Atomico trainsets, renfeint.zip (4.8Mb, 26-May-03) and renfeato.zip (4.5Mb, 26-May-03) respectively; FS ALn663 diesel-powered railcars: aln663xm.zip (4.4Mb, 26-Apr-03) and aln663-3.zip (3.3Mb, 26-May-03), and there's a cab for these, 663cab.zip (2.5Mb, 26-May-03). There's an updated readme for the Seaview Express megapack, sve_upd1.zip (82kb, 26-May-03), which gives some information about using the Raildriver cab control. At UK Trainsim, web•TrainSim noticed a new HST Class 43 cab, HST CAB.zip (2.1Mb, 26-May-03); this one looks its age of 25 years or more!

• <26-May-03>: The Whitefish Widowmaker activity for Marias Pass 3.1 has been updated to version 1.1, ww31v11.zip (28.2Mb, 24-May-03), and there's a later, small update, wwapk.zip (21kb, 25-May-03). By the way, the reason for the large file (28Mb) is that Greg is following a suggestion made in the forums that an activity download contain all the required rolling stock to save those wanting to run the activity from having to chase around to find all the locos and wagons. A couple of other activities will acquaint you with the North East Corridor V4 route: the Senator, senator.zip (4kb, 25-May-03), and Newark Morning Local, newark.zip (13kb, 25-May-03). Those with some historical knowledge of the North East Corridor will be checking their roundhouse for a GG1 to head the Senator trainset. Kurt Kaminer has released his latest version of the Seaview Express bullet trains, sve_v21.zip (8.4Mb, 23-May-03). Gavin Mclaughlan has two New South Wales stock wagons, nssf.zip (1.2Mb, 25-May-03) and nscf.zip (993Kb, 25-May-03), both with appropriate sounds. Younger Australian trainsimmers should download both to get a feel for the importance of rail in the past when it was the main means of transporting livestock to the saleyards. Bob Boudoin has released version 4.5 physics for EMD F-units (FT, F3, F7 and F9), emd-fv45.zip (44kb, 24-May-03) so we now have a standard to work with for prototypical performance of these famous EMD locos. So that's the list of downloads from the Train-sim.com library that caught web•TrainSim's eye when he caught up this morning. For those with a mechanical bent, a kind reader informed web•TrainSim of the DB Cargo Uaai 838 (2.5Mb) (similar to a Schnabel wagon) at MikeMad's MSTS.

Having departed the Manuzio platforms, web•TrainSim's E402b meets a waiting ALe841 on the Manuzio-San Bovio line. To the left are lines to Vallo di Tremonania, the furthermost via Falciono, the other the high-speed line (you can just see the white rear power car of an ETR460 in the distance).

• <23-May-03>: It can be somewhat confusing when you come to find a particular archive file for MSTS Italian Railways rolling stock because most sites tend to list downloads using a descriptive name. However, don't let that be a hindrance to completing your roundhouse with many modern locos and trainsets. If, for example, you're looking at Trenomania.it and can't find some particular rolling stock, try Allfreenet.it which may be more helpful. Hopefully Background info - Italian railways rolling stock will be of assistance. Then see Small fixes 11 to alias sounds and cabs. web•TrainSim will be away from his computer tomorrow so there won't be a line news.

Our E402b in the background is departing Manuzio S. Leo. In the foreground, an ALe841 EMU set is about to depart for Manuzio.

• <22-May-03>: Bob Boudoin has provided updated V4.5 physics ENGine and WAGon files for Gavin Mclaughlan's NHHF wagons and 8048 loco, nswco45.zipcl80v45.zip (8kb, 21-May-03) at the the Train-sim.com library. The engine file is for the 8048 so you can simply slip that one in; to bring the other 80's up to date, it's best to copy and paste, a few lines or one section at a time. A snippet of news received a day or two ago is that the West Coast Railway Melbourne to Warnambool route construction is progressing slowly but surely.

• <21-May-03>: At the the Train-sim.com library, you'll see that Gavin Mclaughlan has contributed a NSW tuscan-liveried Class 49, #4910, 4910.zip (1.5Mb, 20-May-03; for more info on the 49 class, see John Cleverdon's 49 class page). Greg McCarty has adapted his Widowmaker coal run activity, wwmp31.zip (28Mb, 20-May-03) to Marias Pass 3.1 so that'll be a challenge for those who enjoy being in control of a heavy freight haulage job (the download includes the required extra rolling stock). For an example of detail, take a look at the BLS RH485 loco, blsr4851.zip (17.8Mb, 20-May-03).

FS EMU ALe 841.003 has just departed the Falciono platform and is heading to Val Grigione.

• <20-May-03>: Philip Chesters' Trainsimming Modern Italian Railways (part 1), mstsit10.zip (1.6Mb, 19-May-03), is now available from the Train-sim.com library. Gavin Mclaughlan has added more New South Wales wagons, a coal hopper, nhhf.zip (638kb, 19-May-03) and wheat wagon, nghf.zip (856kb, 19-May-03). Steam fans will be interested in the Italian Railways FS GR 471 steam loco, fs_471v2.zip (8Mb, 19-May-03); there are three different models in this archive, each representing a different era of Italian steam. For the armchair signallers, the author of SimSig is now offering his package for free; see the SimSig downloads page for the codes you need to activate the various systems that are simulated.

• <19-May-03>: There have been good reports of the De Berkona Tramline (available from www.msts.nl in the Dutch section). Although not great in length, it certainly is in quality of scenery, particularly considering the age of its author (15 years). web•TrainSim thought he'd see what the current project at Projets ESK is; Edouard's working on steam loco, 231 K, and you can view the work in progress. Keep an eye out for Philip Chester's next issue in his Trainsimming... series, this time on MSTS Italian railways. In case you haven't seen info about the new routes in MSTS 2, this is the list: Horseshoe Curve (circa 1946 with PRRR steam), a modern Norfolk Southern US route (with SD 70's), a British route, a high-speed German route, a Swiss route, and a Japan route. Finally web•TrainSim has uploaded his Via Trenomania activities to web•TrainSim downloads. He's used Route Riter 4 to pack them; there's no APK file and instead the zip consists of the separate files (activity, traffic, paths, services, consists) that make up the activity so you can see what's there. As yet there's no readme in each zip but you can read a description of each activity and the rolling stock required under Activities by web•TS - Via Trenomania in the Op Docs on the right.

• <18-May-03>: web•TrainSim downloaded a couple of the videos available at trainlink.de: ts2movie.zip (2.33Mb) showing passengers alighting and boarding a train (a busy station!) and mov00013.zip (4.6Mb) in a loco cab. Others for download include a demo of the turntable actually turning, new menu and intro screens in the simulation, and footage of BR 103. There are now about a dozen route guides by Chris Bogley in the Train-sim.com library. Each guide indicates the location of sidings, industry, etc., by milepost, as well as how to access various sidings - particularly helpful for a complex route such as NEC 4. web•TrainSim was browsing through the Guide & Tools section at AllFreenet.it where he came across a large collection of DEM files of Italy for download - a great resource for route builders.

• <17-May-03>: Features of MSTS 2 are becoming available in dribs and drabs. Here are a couple of spots for you to catch up: pc.ign.com, Train Simulator 2 at Gamespot, impressions by the Gamespot team, and there's a video for download at trainlink.de. Train-sim now has a MSTS 2 forum where you can read about the latest, and one's been added to the forums at UK Trainsim. Another good site for MSTS Italian rolling stock is Web & Treni by the way. web•TrainSim was advised by a fellow trainsimmer to visit MS Trainstop (he hadn't been past for a while) where there's a wide collection of MSTS rolling stock and version 1 of the Antwerpen-Brussel route (47Mb download).

FS E402.004 in XMPR livery leads our train across the flyover from Lago Azzurro. Below an ETR460 heads on the fast main to Vallo.

• <16-May-03>: The Seaview team have an upgrade to the Seaview 3 route in the Train-sim.com library, sv3updat.zip (7.3Mb, 15-May-03) which includes a new doodlebug and introductory train ride. There's an FS E402 Prototipo pack (fs_e402p_packv1.zip, 4.6Mb), of electric locos available from AllFreeNet.it to satisfy your needs; a cab is included but you need to alias the sounds to the Italian sound set (see Small fixes 11 - Suono Italiano sound files). If you can be patient enough, it's worth getting the UK Modern Track & Coach and UK Steam Track Bogie Coach sound packs from UK Trainsim (UKMT_MCS_v1-0.zip and UKST_pt1_v1-12.zip respectively). These sounds replace the default modern and steam-era carriage sounds and, being part of the cab sounds, add that much more, not just when you cross another train but also in an activity where a faster train, travelling in your direction, passes you on the fast track.

• <15-May-03>: Gavin Mclaughlan has added two more freight wagons to the Train-sim.com library: VPCX cement wagon (loaded and unloaded), vpcx_fa.zip (697kb, 14-May-03), and N.S.W. BCH coal hopper, bch.zip (720kb, 14-May-03). Keep an eye out for an update to the Seaview 3 route - no changes to the actual route but a new Seaview Railway doodlebug and a new introductory ride with traffic made up of what's commonly seen on the Seaview tracks. A new French route, Ligne TER Rhônes-Alpes, is being talked about on the Simtrain-fr.org forum. At about 400 km in length, it includes main centres such as Annecy, Grenoble, Bougoin-Jallieux, Chambery and Aix-Les-Bains. A couple of sites that web•TrainSim is finding useful to know more about Italian Railway operation are Italian Railway Signals, and the FS freight locos stock table and FS passenger locos stock table.

• <14-May-03>: At the the Train-sim.com library, Henk Kristel has added version 1.1 of his Irfanview tutorial to show us how to make our own screensaver, slideshows and burn CDs. This time it's all in HTML-format: tutirfan.zip (11Mb, 13-May-03). Microsoft have put up some screenshots of MSTS 2 at its Train Simulator site. And web•TrainSim has finally put some order into his Background info - Italian Railways rolling stock and has some small fixes in relation to the Suono Italiano sounds and aliasing some cabs of various Italian railways locos and trainsets. web•TrainSim is slowly catching up and now has only to test run a couple of activities on Via Trenomania AV and try out Route Riter V4 to package them.

• <13-May-03>: web•TrainSim came across a post by Mike Simpson on the UK Trainsim forum about a couple of files that are copied to incorrect folders during installation of the Blue Mountains route: railbridge.s and railbridge.sd have to be moved from the ...\Train Simulator\Routes\ folder to the ...\Train Simulator\Routes\Blue_Mountains\Shapes\ folder. The files InstallMe.bat and ReadMe.txt have to be moved from ...\Train Simulator\Routes\ to the ...\Train Simulator\Routes\Blue_Mountains\ folder.

• <12-May-03>: Mike Simpson's Blue Mountains route is now available from the Train-sim.com library in blumtns.zip (67Mb, 11-May-03). The route is from Lithgow to Penrith so you'll need your heavy locos for coal hauling. If there were MSTS models of the Class 85 and 86 electric locos, all would be perfect (hint, hint). If you're looking to add to your Italian Railways rolling stock, there are two FS ALe 841 inter-regional 160 kmh EMU sets by Ernesto Imperato (with cab by Kenji Kimura) in fs_ale84.zip (5.9Mb, 11-May-03).

E656.041 leads the Vallo-San Bovio and return service over the flyover after leaving Lago Azzurro. Below is the 250 kmh Vallo-Manuzio line which we'll join for a short distance before branching off to San Bovio.

• <11-May-03>: At the Train-sim.com library, fans of the Fairbanks C-liner loco will find one in Full Bucket Line livery, fbl90.zip (11.8Mb, 10-May-03) and there's a cab, too, based on Christine Sweetnam's S-class, clcbv.zip (2.7Mb, 10-May-03). Another download of note is an F40PH-headed Caltrain commuter set (the F40 is in the "popsicle" livery), caltrain.zip (4.3Mb, 10-May-03); note this download requires f40_set1.zip and f40_pat.zip. For some screenshots of MSTS 2, see this page at GameSpot. Those looking for information, including technical specs, for Italian Railways rolling stock, will find AmiciTreni useful.

• <10-May-03>: James Brook has completed his V/Line S307 and NSWGR 4206 diesel-electric locos; see his site to download them. At Train-sim.com, there are some guides for the Florida Funnel, Cajon and Blueridge Sub routes (search for *.guide.zip) and a schematic map for the A Dual Fantasy Railroad route, admapv10.zip (440kb, 09-May-03). web•TrainSim has sorted out aliasing some cabs and sounds for Italian rolling stock; a writeup in a day or two before he's forgotten what he did.

The FS ETR500 by Ciro Di Donato in all its splendour.

• <09-May-03>: Alco fans are being spoilt at the Train-sim.com library: an Alco C424 (in Mt Cascade livery), mc_c424.zip (2Mb, 08-May-03) and an RS1 (in Long Island livery), with its own sounds and cabview, lirs1461.zip (8.6Mb, 08-May-03). Note that the RapidShot screen capture utility available from Train-sim.com is a limited demo shareware product. The FS ETR500 pictured above is the model mentioned in yesterday's line news, etr500.zip (16.5Mb, 07-May-03). There is another model, FS_ETRY500_Romolo.zip (2.5Mb, 08-Dec-02), available from the Trenomania site.

• <08-May-03>: Today AVSim announced that MSTS 2 will be shown for the first time at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2003, Los Angeles, May 14-16, and that the release for the U.S. is the Northern Hemisphere autumn. Of the five new routes, one is the Deutsche Bahn AG and the other incorporates the famous Horseshoe Curve on the Pennsylvania Railroad. All good news for trainsimming, except (as this is written) there is no news on backwards compatability (I thought backward-compatability only applied to operating systems and software? Ed.). So all developers of rolling stock, routes, activities and tools will have to wait for more information (this is one thread running at Train-sim.com). Meanwhile web•TrainSim noticed an FS ETR 500 trainset, etr500.zip (16.5Mb, 07-May-03), in the Train-sim.com library earlier today, so he's off to download it and use it in an activity or two on Via Trenomania. Alco fans, there's a C636 (repainted in Mt Cascade livery) there, too, mc_c636.zip (1.4Mb, 07-May-03); it's a repaint of a Gaetan Belanger model, so check his site (which, by the way, web•TrainSim has visited for some time, so hopefully, Alco fans, the link is still live).

The ETR460 Valo-San Bovio express departs before our E656 gets the conductor's all-clear.

• <07-May-03>: There weren't any notable downloads to distract web•TrainSim today so he had to settle down and put together paths for an activity or two on Via Trenomania. This route has a couple of loops so the aim was to test an activity Vallo to San Bovio, then travel around the loop back to San Bovio (a different platform) and return to Vallo. So far, so good. There is one piece of troublesome track on Via Trenomania, however, that could cause you to derail so watch your speed around the curve between the 39 and 40 kilometre posts between Laggo Azzurro and Falciono. Note, too, you need to have the latest version of the TSection.dat file installed; if you've got XTracks installed, you're ok (these snippets were gleaned from a Babelfish translation of Difetti conosciuti.txt which you'll find in the Nordida route folder). If you're creating activities for Ligne 1, the more you get into it, you may find a few problems with the route; web•TrainSim has received the following from a fellow trainsimmer: the X-points do not appear to recognise signals (perhaps a MSTS bug); manual X-points in the yard won't change; there are some derailments (at the junction north of Moulinsard and southbound at Prissac); a location (web•TrainSim doesn't know the precise point) where L1 will crash in the evening but not morning or night.

• <06-May-03>: A couple of downloads that caught web•TrainSim's eye at the Train-sim.com library: a pack of nine VHGY wagons in Freight Australia and V/Line liveries, loaded and unloaded, by Gavin Mclaughlan, vhgypk.zip (3.2Mb, 05-May-03) and the 1948 Milwaukee Road Olympian Hiawatha trainset, milw_oh.zip (29Mb, 05-May-03). This latter trainset was one of many introduced in the era of the streamliner and domed cars; Milwaukee Road went one better with their unique Skydome car. Another famous trainset of the same era is the Great Northern Empire Builder, gn1949eb.zip (27Mb, 10-Feb-03) whose name is now continued by Amtrak on the same route across Marias Pass. A new French trainset of interest is the Voiture d'Essais à Grande Vitesse(VEGV) Melusine, available for download from Trainsimfrance.net, melusine.exe (1.52 Mb).

• <05-May-03>: Phil Skene of Adelaide has released his DragonRail short-line route, d_rail_X.zip (where x=1,, 2, 3, 4, each file of about 7Mb, 04-May-03), at Train-sim.com. As Phil says, this route is a change from the hard work of being in charge of a 100-wagon consist to being able to enjoy the scenery driving one or two small locos with a dozen wagons. While waiting for the DragonRail files to download, if you're a route builder, you might want to check out the third-rail textures, 3rdrail.zip (1.0Mb, 04-May-03), and there's another small fix for the CEBX800 Schnabel wagon, cebxview.zip (101kb, 04-May-03). web•TrainSim ftp'ed the last couple of pics to the correct folder on a second try so they're here now!

Looking right from the cab of our CC 6539, we see an X4750 Caravelle resting between duties.

• <04-May-03>: Mike Simpson's Route Riter is now at version 4. An new additional feature enables activity creators to package an activity into a zip file. The zip will also include a text file of rolling stock required by the activty - a big plus! Route Riter retains its in-built tools for route developers; it's in download rrit4000.zip (5.6Mb, 03-May-03) at the Train-sim.com library. Also listed in the library is Chris Longhurst's Eurostar trainset, eurosta2.zip (1.6Mb, 03-May-03), which many have been looking for (note this version is still V0.4beta). If you wish to make the Eurostar into a more prototypical trainset, there's some tuning you can do and a cab you can download - all the information you need is in the LGV Eurostar on the LGV Med page.

• <03-May-03>: Route builders will be interested in a couple of tools that appeared in the Train-sim.com library: TS Terraform has been updated to V5.0.1, tstf501.zip (1.7Mb, 02-May-03). Mick Trist's tool helps create landscapes from map images or DEM files. Glenn Nicol has a batch file for backing up the route you're working on, routebak.zip (2kb, 02-May-03). Also of note is a guide to NEC4, necguide.zip (6kb, 02-May-03) which details the CSX Sub and Amtrak corridor. A couple of handy container packs, each containing a number of single smooth-side containers with varied company names, include one for CSX, csx_pak.zip (4.3Mb, 02-May-03), and another for BNSF, bnsf_pak.zip (4.3Mb, 02-May-03).

• <02-May-03>: All of Craig Scott's Class 81 locos have been repainted to show their new owners with the Pacific National logo. Plenty of re-numbered locos, too, to add to your fleet for coal-hauling duties on the Coal Road route. You'll find all these new 81s in 81pn-pk1.zip (2.4Mb, 01-May-03) at the Train-sim.com library. web•TrainSim has run through the four Via Trenomania AV activities in vtact.zip (17-Apr-03, 60kb) from www.trenomania.it. The list of rolling stock from www.trenomania.it required for this activity has yet to be completed since the site gives a descriptive name of the rolling stock but you don't see the actual download file name until Download is clicked so web•TrainSim is working backwards to put in those download names.

ETR460 Pendolino departs Via Trenomania.

• <01-May-03>: While waiting for the bytes to come down the line to complete the rolling stock downloads for Via Trenomania AV, web•TrainSim went searching again for some information on the Venturio trainset (Why is it that on the third or fourth attempt at finding info on the Web it appears right in front of you?). Among other things, a variation of the Venturio is being proposed as the U.K.'s High-speed Train Mark 2 to replace the Class 43 Intercity 125s. So a browse through Siemens Trains site is worthwhile (e.g., the Venturio train control system is very interesting); there are comprehensive PDF docs for a range of Siemens-built trains, including the Venturio as mentioned, Desiro and ICE3. Another train worth looking at is the Talgo 350 AVE S-102 (nicknamed the duck) to be used on Spain's high-speed routes. Last year in June a Talgo XII trainset set the highest speed for diesel traction at 252 km/hr and Talgo's low-slung carriages are used on several other routes around the world. Talgo carriages are also well-known for their gauge-changing feature (How would that go in MSTS?) So, trainset designers, there are some ideas for you. For those of us not so gifted, we'll just browse the docs and begin to get a feel for when these modern trainsets come to MSTS.

About | Contact

web•Train Sim was, until recently, part of my web•Wiz Online site at http://webdotwiz.tripod.com. Due to a reduction in free web space by Tripod, these pages have had to be posted at their own site, http://webDotTrainSim.tripod.com. Not such a bad thing because there's now 20Mb for Train Sim!

• Email me at info@webDotTrainsim.com if you have questions or comments. I'll try to answer as best I can. Certainly post me if any step-by-step instructions on various how-to pages need clarification.